Celtic and Rangers have both been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors following fan disorder that erupted during last season's quarter-final at Ibrox. The Scottish FA tribunal imposed the sanctions by unanimous decision under Rule 37 after both clubs were charged with failing to prevent unacceptable conduct by their supporters.
In addition to the closed-doors requirement, each club must pay £100,000 to the team they face in that fixture, with the compensation due within 30 days of the match being completed. Both sides also face suspended additional penalties: a further home Scottish Cup match without spectators and an extra £100,000 payment, both of which would be activated only if there is a "further failure" to prevent supporters engaging in unacceptable conduct in any Scottish Cup fixture during the period through the end of season 2027/28.
The disorder in question occurred in March after Celtic's penalty shootout victory over Rangers at Ibrox. Supporters threw fireworks and other missiles onto the pitch, police officers sustained injuries, and multiple arrests were made. An independent review commissioned by the Scottish FA warned the scenes came within a very small margin of becoming a violent mass confrontation.
What triggered the charges?
Both clubs gave evidence to the independent judicial panel after being charged under the Scottish FA's disciplinary rule 37, which covers unacceptable conduct at matches. The tribunal's decision reflects growing concern about crowd disorder in Scottish football. The sanctions represent a significant hardening of the Scottish FA's approach to fan misconduct, moving beyond the fines and reduced ticket allocations that have been the traditional response to issues such as pyrotechnics.
How did Celtic respond?
Celtic stated they were "shocked by this disproportionate punishment for a relatively small incursion by Celtic supporters at a moment of emotion and celebration." The club acknowledged that it has never defended supporters entering the field of play and said it has repeatedly taken action when such incidents occur.
We understand the part emotion plays in football and would have expected the context and distinction in behaviours to have been taken into account by the panel.
Celtic also emphasised that they were not the home club responsible for stadium safety arrangements at Ibrox. The club said it would study the tribunal's written report and reasoning before considering next steps.
What does this signal about the SFA's approach?
The severity of these sanctions marks a notable shift in how Scottish football's governing body is addressing crowd disorder. In the recent past, the SFA and SPFL have typically handed down fines or, occasionally, reduced ticket allocations for misconduct. The move to closed-doors matches represents a much stronger deterrent.
An independent review led by Mark Blackbourne, published last month, had criticised both clubs and the Scottish FA itself for not taking a sufficiently tough stance on crowd disorder. The tribunal's decision provides evidence that the governing body is heeding that criticism. While the clubs have defended their positions, the SFA will hope that these sanctions send a clear message that unacceptable conduct will no longer be tolerated.
When will the sanctions take effect?
The closed-doors requirements are likely to come into force when both Celtic and Rangers enter this season's Scottish Cup competition in January. The suspended additional sanctions remain in place until the end of season 2027/28, meaning either club could face further punishment if their supporters engage in unacceptable conduct during any Scottish Cup fixture in that timeframe.
Key Facts
- Both Celtic and Rangers must play their next home Scottish Cup match behind closed doors and pay £100,000 to their opponent
- The compensation payment is due within 30 days of the relevant match being completed
- Additional suspended penalties include a further closed-doors home tie and a suspended £100,000 payment, active until the end of season 2027/28
- The sanctions follow disorder in March when Celtic beat Rangers on penalties at Ibrox, with supporters throwing fireworks and missiles onto the pitch
- An independent review had warned the incident came within a very small margin of becoming a violent mass confrontation
